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Bisping wants swan song at UFC London after fighting Gastelum in China

Mark Kolbe / Getty Images Sport / Getty

He may no longer own a title, but Michael Bisping can still go out on his own terms.

Mere days after he agreed to face Kelvin Gastelum at UFC Fight Night 122 in Shanghai, China, on just two weeks' notice, the former middleweight champion revealed he's aiming to fight on the UFC's March bill in London, England, before calling it a career during a Monday appearance on "The MMA Hour."

The 38-year-old had aimed to defeat Georges St-Pierre at UFC 217 before going out with another title defense in his home country - preferably in his native Manchester - but he'll settle for the English capital now that St-Pierre owns the crown.

Bisping became the UFC's first British champion with a knockout of Luke Rockhold two Junes ago before defending the belt against Dan Henderson in Manchester last October. The latter victory gave him sole ownership of the UFC's win record with 20, a distinction St-Pierre matched when he submitted the Brit at UFC 217 just nine days ago.

As for why he agreed to the three-week turnaround, the former titleholder repeated to Ariel Helwani on Monday what he told FloCombat's Damon Martin upon replacing Anderson Silva to face Gastelum: He had to jump at the opportunity to rebound from his submission loss to GSP.

"I can't see how I cannot take this fight," Bisping told Martin. "I'm serious because the homework is done. I've got no injuries. I like to fight, and I've got a bad taste in my mouth from my last performance. That's what's bothering me. The UFC head of legal, Hunter Campbell, he was checking 'Are you OK, are you OK?' and physically I'm fine. Mentally, I'm very frustrated.

"So this gives me a chance to exorcise my demons and get some decent mental space back. Physically, I'm totally fine. Mentally, I'm pissed off. So for me it's almost a gift from the gods."

Bisping will aim to get back in the win column when he meets Gastelum in UFC Fight Night 122's main event on Nov. 25. His ideal swan song - UFC Fight Night 127 - is currently scheduled for March 17 at London's O2 Arena.

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